Patents by Inventor Keith E. Hanford
Keith E. Hanford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8085482Abstract: An optical element mount has an inner member suspended within an outer member by a number of flexures. A first translational actuator is movable within the outer member and coupled to the inner member by a first shaft and is actuable to translate the inner member along a first substantially linear travel path within a translation plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis. A second translational actuator is movable within the outer member and coupled to the inner member by a second shaft and is actuable to translate the inner member along a second substantially linear travel path within the translation plane. A rotational actuator is movable within the outer member and coupled to the inner member by a third shaft and actuable to rotate the inner member about an instant point of rotation that is defined at the intersection of the first and second linear travel paths.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Jack Weston Frankovich, Robert D Grejda, Keith E Hanford, Todd R. McMichael
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Publication number: 20110292527Abstract: An optical element mount has an inner member suspended within an outer member by a number of flexures. A first translational actuator is movable within the outer member and coupled to the inner member by a first shaft and is actuable to translate the inner member along a first substantially linear travel path within a translation plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis. A second translational actuator is movable within the outer member and coupled to the inner member by a second shaft and is actuable to translate the inner member along a second substantially linear travel path within the translation plane. A rotational actuator is movable within the outer member and coupled to the inner member by a third shaft and actuable to rotate the inner member about an instant point of rotation that is defined at the intersection of the first and second linear travel paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Jack Weston Frankovich, Robert D. Grejda, Keith E. Hanford, Todd R. McMichael
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Patent number: 7916408Abstract: An optical element mount has an inner member suspended within an outer member by a plurality of flexures. A first and a second translational adjustment apparatus are disposed to translate the inner member within a translation plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis, wherein each translational adjustment apparatus has an actuator movable within the outer member along a linear travel path that is parallel to the translation plane and a shaft extending between the outer and inner members, the shaft coupled to the actuator with a first ball-and-socket joint and coupled to the inner member with a second ball-and-socket joint. The linear travel path of the actuator for the first translational adjustment apparatus is substantially orthogonal to the linear travel path of the actuator for the second translational adjustment apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Douglass L Blanding, Jack W Frankovich, Keith E Hanford, Kevin J Magierski
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Patent number: 7800852Abstract: A positioning apparatus for providing relative movement between a first member and a second member has a lever element pivotably coupled to the first member along a fulcrum member and has an actuator arm and a positioner arm. First and second flexure elements extend between the positioner arm of the lever element and the second member. An actuator is coupled to the actuator arm of the lever element.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2009Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Douglass L Blanding, John H Bruning, Jack W Frankovich, Keith E Hanford, Kevin J Magierski
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Publication number: 20100110570Abstract: An optical element mount has an inner member suspended within an outer member by a plurality of flexures. A first and a second translational adjustment apparatus are disposed to translate the inner member within a translation plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis, wherein each translational adjustment apparatus has an actuator movable within the outer member along a linear travel path that is parallel to the translation plane and a shaft extending between the outer and inner members, the shaft coupled to the actuator with a first ball-and-socket joint and coupled to the inner member with a second ball-and-socket joint. The linear travel path of the actuator for the first translational adjustment apparatus is substantially orthogonal to the linear travel path of the actuator for the second translational adjustment apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Douglass L. Blanding, Jack W. Frankovich, Keith E. Hanford, Kevin J. Magierski
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Patent number: 7612956Abstract: An optical element mount has an outer member and an inner member. The inner member has a central axis and is suspended within the outer member by a plurality of fold flexures. Each fold flexure has a fold that lies along a line that intersects the central axis at one common point, where the common point serves as a pivot point for rotational movement of the inner member.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2008Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Douglass L Blanding, John H Bruning, Jack W Frankovich, Keith E Hanford, Kevin J Magierski, Mark C Sanson
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Publication number: 20090219634Abstract: A positioning apparatus for providing relative movement between a first member and a second member has a lever element pivotably coupled to the first member along a fulcrum member and has an actuator arm and a positioner arm. First and second flexure elements extend between the positioner arm of the lever element and the second member. An actuator is coupled to the actuator arm of the lever element.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2009Publication date: September 3, 2009Inventors: Douglass L. Blanding, John H. Bruning, Jack W. Frankovich, Keith E. Hanford, Kevin J. Magierski
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Publication number: 20080204908Abstract: An optical element mount has an outer member and an inner member. The inner member has a central axis and is suspended within the outer member by a plurality of fold flexures. Each fold flexure has a fold that lies along a line that intersects the central axis at one common point, where the common point serves as a pivot point for rotational movement of the inner member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2008Publication date: August 28, 2008Inventors: Douglass L. Blanding, John H. Bruning, Jack W. Frankovich, Keith E. Hanford, Kevin J. Magierski, Mark C. Sanson
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Patent number: 5488514Abstract: A mounting seat for an optical element is decoupled from a surrounding annulus that fixes the mount in place in an optical system. The annulus can be one of a plurality of annuli that are interconnected to surround and enclose a coaxial array of optical elements. The decoupling is accomplished by three flexible fingers extending inward from the annulus to a seat for the optical element, which can be mounted either directly on the flexible fingers or on a concentric seating ring supported by the fingers. The flexible elements can be formed integrally with an annulus by cutting slots in its inner perimeter. The flexible elements are structured relative to the lens elements they support so that natural frequencies of vibration of the lens elements are higher than the frequencies of external vibration.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1995Date of Patent: January 30, 1996Assignee: General Signal CorporationInventors: John H. Bruning, Frank A. DeWitt, Keith E. Hanford
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Patent number: 5428482Abstract: A mounting seat for an optical element is decoupled from a surrounding annulus that fixes the mount in place in an optical system. The annulus can be one of a plurality of annuli that are interconnected to surround and enclose a coaxial array of optical elements. The decoupling is accomplished by three flexible fingers extending inward from the annulus to a seat for the optical element, which can be mounted either directly on the flexible fingers or on a concentric seating ring supported by the fingers. The flexible elements can be formed integrally with an annulus by cutting slots in its inner perimeter. The flexible elements are structured relative to the lens elements they support so that natural frequencies of vibration of the lens elements are higher than the frequencies of external vibration.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1993Date of Patent: June 27, 1995Assignee: General Signal CorporationInventors: John H. Bruning, Frank A. DeWitt, Keith E. Hanford
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Patent number: 5353166Abstract: An optical mounting system using interconnected annuli that support optical elements is made more accurate by forming raised engagement surfaces around the periphery of the annuli to confront and engage each other in a mounting plane perpendicular to the concentric axis of the annuli. The raised engagement surfaces are preferably formed as concentric ridge rings spaced radially inside and outside a row of screw holes used for interconnecting the annuli. The raised engagement surfaces are also preferably continuous around the peripheries of the annuli so they can be ground accurately flat and provide interannuli mounting surfaces that are resistant to deformation.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1992Date of Patent: October 4, 1994Assignee: General Signal CorporationInventors: Keith E. Hanford, Edward A. Johnson
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Patent number: 4418251Abstract: The electrical collector unit (41) and the overhead conductor entrance (26) are designed so that four collectors (63, 64, 66, 67) can properly enter the conductor slots (18, 19, 21, 22) without manual assistance and with the vehicle, not shown, carrying the collection unit (41) traveling at near a walking speed. Two collector subassemblies (42, 43) are mounted on the vehicle, not shown, each of which carries two collectors and includes spring biased parallel links (73, 74, 76, 77) between a pair of pivot posts (71, 86), a guide roller (61) engageable with side walls (28, 29, 36, 67) of the entrance chute (26) and equalizer beams (134, 136) supporting the collectors (63, 64 or 66, 67).Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1981Date of Patent: November 29, 1983Assignee: Allis-Chalmers CorporationInventors: Peter W. Hartman, Keith E. Hanford, Stephen L. Markle, Elmer C. Hartman